Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-08-22
sUPERINTENDENr wEBsrER.s
address 1t the Red edication OF the Church
Hill SchOOi.House, :.

Following is an abstract from Superinten-
dent Of Schools Webster's excellent address
on the occasion of the rededication of their
new school-house by the residents OF Church
Hill, Friday evening:
The law dividing towns into districts was
passed in 1883, but it is probable that MANY
towns had already been so divided by their
own action, since we find that in Hallowell-
then including Augusta-it was voted in 1886
to have the town divided into six districts, and
IN 1877 the division was actually made into
eight. After the Incorporation of Augusta,
at the first town meeting in 1897, the new
town was divided into eight districts, two on
the east side of the river and six on the west !;
committee of three was elected for each
district, and town COMMITTEE to visit
schools" of seven members This 10 the frst
record have ever found of the appointment
of town school committee, as such commit
tees were first established by State law in
Maine in 1921, and in Massachusetts, in 1926.
school committee-or supervisor-has been
annually appointed IN Augusta ever SINCE
in 1915 the number being reduced to Ave, and
in 1888 to three. After 1915 the town chose
an agent, instead of a committee of three as
previously, for each district, and in 1888 the
agents.
As the town grew and the schools beca me
too large, new districts were formed by the
division of the old-several in 1929, one of
which was No. IL. This district comprised
about the north half of the town in the second
mile from the river, and portion of the third
mile. The latter was set off in 1849, to dis
trict Is. June IA 1851, district ii was divid-
ed and district % formed from its southern
part. No doubt there were thought to be
good reasons for the division. but its ultimate
consequences were most unfortunate, and it
is to celebrate the final extinction of this
division that we are here to night
1t had long been apparent to all unpreju-
diced observers of our schools, that the main
tenance of the district system was a great
obstacle to the success of our country schools.
While our graded schools, carried on under
a united management identical with that of
the town system, were a credit TO the city and
the State, our country schools were not a
source of any special pride to any one, and
our country children were not having a fair
chance to obtain that foundation of our civil
| il alton, a good common school education. 1t
was long ago evident that no material i'm
provemenI could be made under the district
system-that its destruction was a prerequ-
site to any real advance in the character of
our country schools-but it was not until this
year of grace, 1887, that the hour seemed to
have struck in which that could be accom-
| plished You are to be congratulated that
the hour has struck at last, and that your
schools are now free from the hampering and
destructive influences of an antiquated sys-
TEN that long ago outlived its usefulness,i If it
ever had any.
The ease with which the change was effect
ed was surprise to me, and to every one
who was interested in its accomplishment.
The time seemed to be fully ripe tor it, and
perhaps it was only through timidity or over
caution that it was not done before.
1t does not become me to speak of the re-
sults-time will show them so plainly that
all can comprehend-bu am fully confident
that the share | have had in bringing about
the change will always be source of honest
selt-congratuiation | can assure you, at the
risk of being considered egotisiic, that the
condition of our country schools is in marked
contrast to what found two years ago, and
that we have now no occasion TO be ashamed
OF them.
| In conclusion, | congratulate you on the
possession of this pleasant school-house, and
hope, before many years, to see all the
schools in town rs well housed a. this.